Beat the heat | Top 3 spots near Bristol to cool down this summer

Bristol Suspension Bridge - Avon Gorge
Photo credit: Hello I'm Nik

Top 3 shaded forest spots near Bristol

Looking for some shaded forests to explore near you in Bristol? Look no further in your quest for shaded woodlands, we’ve got the ultimate guide to beating the Bristol city heat.

With the climate tragically heating up, there are a number of increasingly hot summers ahead. Cities become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the ‘urban heat island effect’, so escape Bristol and find a secret spot under the trees of a nearby woodland. 

No need to reach for your car keys - you can reach forests near Bristol by bike or bus and do your bit for the planet! 

Path through the trees

1. Leigh Woods

Leigh Woods, Abbots Leigh, Bristol 

2.5 miles from central Bristol

Get directions from Bristol

Tucked away to the west of the city, these beautiful woods are often overlooked by visitors venturing to the nearby Ashton Court. Offering beautiful views of Bristol suspension bridge and the Avon gorge from a unique angle, Leigh Woods offers challenging mountain biking, quiet shaded spots for a walk, and high-quality refreshments in the car park. 

The best bit? Leigh Woods is totally accessible by public transport or bike, so you don’t need to worry about contributing to the climate emergency by using a car. By bike - A link, 41, runs through the site to the National Cycle Network Route 4 along the River Avon. Bike parking is available in our car park. By Bus - the X3, X3a and X4, services run past the woodland entrance from Bristol to Portishead. 

We recommend: Venture down to ‘Paradise Bottom’ and enjoy the stream, the flora and the fauna. Spotting new species and resting in the dappled shade, you’ll feel a world away from the chaos of Cabot Circus. 

Did you know? Trees can help us to adapt to a changing climate. They provide shade, alleviate flooding, and create a valuable wildlife habitat. They also ‘lock in’ some of the estimated 3000 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide in the air. 

Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean, Speech House Road, Coleford

25 miles from central Bristol

Get directions from Bristol

The perfect picnic spot, with wide open lawns, shaded benches in the trees, and a wonderful café - it’s no wonder Beechenhurst is so popular with Bristolians.   

There are even barbecue areas if you’re feeling adventurous. 

We recommend: Experience the jaw-dropping Forest of Dean sculpture trail. Keep your eyes peeled for a giant stained-glass window hanging from the trees. The sculptures on this trail are inspired by the forest - its trees, wildlife and industrial past. It features pieces by famous artists set in the beautiful surroundings of the Forest of Dean. 

The sculptures are mostly constructed from natural material from the Dean - wood, stone and iron. They are interspersed along the trail through majestic oaks and towering Scots pine trees. 

You can get to Beechenhurst car-free from Bristol too (so shake that fossil-fuel guilt). Just jump on the train to Gloucester, then catch the Stagecoach bus 30. More details on the Good Journey website. We’ve got no entry charge at our sites, so if you come without a car, it’s a cost-effective day out. 

Stained glass pannel hanging in the canopy at beechenhurst sculpture trail

2. Beechenhurst

Did you know? To combat climate change, we are ambitiously planting more trees. Last year our nurseries produced nearly 16 million new trees to replant and create new areas of woodland. In the same year, we harvested 7.75 million trees for use in everything from home-building to furniture-making. 

Woodland stream with sunshine

3. Wenchford

Wenchford, Forest of Dean, New Road, Blakeney

23 miles from Bristol

Get directions from Bristol

Wenchford offers the perfect place to beat the Bristol heat. A popular picnic site with picnic tables, an easy access path and – for when it all gets a bit too hot – a paddling area. 

Blackpool Brook trickles through the site under the dappled shade of the large oak trees. An idyllic spot to come with family or friends, once you arrive you’ll never want to go back to Bristol! 

During the summer toilets are open on-site, so you don’t have to move! That said, we recommend stretching your legs – there’s a walking trail running along a hard-surfaced path adjacent to the Blackpool Brook and then on to a track above the picnic site. 

Don’t get trapped in the Bristol city heat this year – come and explore the cool shade of your nearest forests. 

Have you visited any of our top forest spots near Bristol? Share your pictures with #ForestFocus, and share your #MyForestMoment for a chance to win

More from the blog

Woman in forest smiling
Blog
08 May 2019
This post was written by Ellen, an office worker in Bristol. Ellen has found that her lunchtime walks offer a chance to escape the confines of office life. Learn more about forest wellbeing. Sims Hill Wood is an area of woodland about a two minute walk from my Bristol office. I was introduced to the woodland via a lunchtime walk with a colleague on a hot July day last year, during my first week at work. I remember the shade from the trees - it was a very hot summer. But I also recall how while walking and looking at our surroundings I felt more comfortable, chatting and getting to know my colleagues.
Forest with lakeside path
Blog
07 May 2019
Kate explains how a Nordic Walking group in Delamere is making profound changes to her lifestyle. She's found health, companionship and time to admire some glorious surroundings.
Kate Humble against a bluebell woodland backdrop
Blog
01 May 2019
Kate Humble & Forestry England are encouraging people to put one foot in front of another and soak up the nation’s forests during mental health awareness week. “Walking for me is a form of mediation, and the simple act of putting one foot in front of another has extraordinary benefits to my mental wellbeing. It helps me feel relaxed, less anxious and more creative. “Walks enjoyed in the nation’s forests can be particularly special. I love to follow trails through the trees where with every step you can enjoy the sounds, sights and smells of nature.  Never knowing what wildlife is going to appear on my pathway makes me excited! There is something so simple about walking but the benefits are huge.” Escape the stresses of everyday life and soak up the spring sunshine on one of Forestry England’s carefully selected top 10 walks for your wellbeing.
Long tailed tit bird
Blog
09 April 2019
Our forests provide some of the richest environments for wildlife in the country